Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-09-16
WARNING TO FARMERS.
The Latest Dodge Devised for the PurpOst
of Swindling Agricuiturists.


The confidence man who lies in wait
for the unsuspecting farmer is Il versa
tile being who does not coniine him
self 10 traffic III lightning rods or Boz
! hcmian oats, but resorts to other
methods when conditions seem favor;l-
Bile. A pair of these plausible rascal-
have lately been endeavoring To prac-
ice their profession in Wayne County.
Ind. In the course of their peregrina.
tons, one in the guise of a wealthy
citizen from Virginia called upon Mr..
Isaac Doddridge. II well-known and
well-to-do farmer of that county, and
represented himself as DESTROYS o;
purchasing stock farm for his son.
He wanted Il large farm. would not be
Il stickler as to price, would pay cash.
and was favorably impressed with the
land which Mr.. Doddridge owned.
After some chatlering an engagement
was made to look over the ground on the
following day, and at the urappointed
the wealthy stranger was on hand
that they go first to remote part of
the land, and Mr.. Doddridge, suspect
ing nothing wrong of y gentleman SO
affable and apparently prosperous,
readily consented, remembering later.
however, that the tract in question was
distant FROM the public highway and
from neighbors. As they were about
| TO turn into these fields second
stranger, in a light wagon, came driv-
ing up rapidly and hailed them, but
/ upon receiving Mr.. Doddridgcs assur-
ance that he did not know the man,
stranger No. ] said that as he himself
never saw him before the business
could not be important, and they would
drive on. On arrival at Il retired spot.
il was found that stranger No. had
followed them. lie introduced him
self as IN advertising agent of South
ern lottery. and that he was not selling
tickets. but merely wished to secure
the names Of two OF three responsible
men in each county. who would be al
lowed To draw large prizes simply on
the fact that they publish the fact in
the papers. Then. with charts and
papers. he undertook to show the fair
method in which the lottery was
operated, and the impo>siblity of
fraud in its workings. Stranger No.
| become deeply interested in the
scheme, and when it was presently
proposed that they Try their luck then
and there, readily agreed, and on the
first trial drew -. which he was al
oh Ia hot hn
would show an equal amount. Mr..
Doddridge, having been a reader of the
papers to some purpose, had before
this time realized the situation. but be-
lieying silence to be the part of diScrc-
ton, offered no objection when urged
To try his chances and laid down ~.
taking pains ut the same time to show
that this. with II little change. was all
the money in his pocket-book. The
first stranger then drew $500, and on
exhibiting some $1,000 or 1900 of his
own, received the prize. Mr.. Dod-
bridge then drew $500. also, but upon
his assurance that he had not an equal
sum npon his person to show,
disappointment was visible in the
faces of both strangers. He wa. urged
to give II check, but protested that he
had no blanks. j was then arranged
that he drive To Richmond with the
wealthy Nirginian, draw the none,
and return to the place where they thcS
were, the second stranger to remain in
t waiting. Up TO this time Mr.. bod.
bridge had expressed no doubts, but
: his silence and hesitation had probabl,
: aroused his companion suspicious
rs before arriving as II village in The
vicinity. and ut which place Mr.. bod
bridge hoped To secure the arrest OF
; the rascal with him, this imam o
, wealth. suddenly decided to 90 n,
further, said he believed the thing wa,
Il fraud, and that he would go bach
| and return the cash he had drawn and
: have no more to do with the matter
2 Mr.. Doddrige willingly assentcd, wa'
| set down mt his own door, and now
[ congratulates himself that his lack O
r.aGy money at a critical time save,
e him from assault and perhaps savet
, his life. The rascals on this occasion
e made Il mistake in selecting their Vie
n tim, rs it is not q part of their scheme
t To waste time on men who read III,
: newspapers and are posted a to III,
: ways that are dark of the contidenc,
. gentry. In these days when gas boom
o are "on. and the rural citizen, rs wei
e as the dweller in the city, is excite,
). by hopes OF future wealth, and evel
+ by the sudden accumulation of moder
e ale riches. the scoundrel who seek
j. what he may deNour in the way of IN
!. sophisticated granger> is abroad in tn
| land in a variety of di>gusc>. la fla
i shape of 4 wealthy stranger who want
: To buy every thing in sight for cash
: he i, perhaps. more irresistible THAI
o in any other form. and it is OF tn
e wealthy stranger. therefore, with whom
q Il few thousand dollars more or less i
= - L.